Negroponte's Replacements Are Master Chefs Willing To Cook The Books On Iran (Larry Johnson)

[kpete]

Taking Stock of the Intel Community Shake Up
by
Larry C Johnson

There are big doings in the intel community that may signal the start of a new effort to cook the books to justify an attack on Iran. Let's start with John Negroponte's move to State Department. I am told by a knowledgeable friend that Negroponte was pressured by the White House to take the job at State. The exodus of key State Department personnel (e.g., Deputy Secretary Zoellick, Counselor Phil Zelikow, and Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Hank Crumpton) left Condi twisting in the wind. Negroponte gives Condi one of the most experienced foreign service officers in the State Department's history.

Negroponte will not be shedding crocodile tears as he drives to Foggy Bottom. The Director of National Intelligence job is still in its full birthing pains and, while having important clout over the National Intelligence Estimate process and handling the daily Presidential intelligence brief, still lacks effective control of the intelligence community. The Director of CIA retains control over the most significant human collection capability and the Under Secretary of Intelligence at the Department of Defense essentially controls 80% of the intelligence community, including almost all of the critical technical collection assets.

Replacing Negroponte with retired Navy Admiral John M. McConnell and appointing retired Air Force Lt. General James Clapper as the Under Secretary of Intelligence at DOD, where he will be in charge of coordinating the budgets and activities of the NSA, the NRO, Defense Human Services, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA), and the Defense Intelligence Agency, will give the military unprecedented control of the intelligence community. This will mark the first time since World War II the active duty or former military officers are running the main intelligence assets of the United States. Clapper's new job, at least for him, is a dream come true.

Clapper and McConnell are worrisome choices because they are known in the intelligence community as guys willing to give their customers what they want. Unlike Negroponte, who took a pretty tough analytical stance dismissing the imminence of an Iranian threat, Clapper and McConnell will be more than willing collaborators in making a case that Iran is a serious, immediate threat. If you want to cook the books then these guys can be master chefs.

more at:
http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/01/taking_stock_of.html#more

[whistle]

1. Now we have the real Bush/Cheney Iraq surge mushroom solution

....keep congress in the dark, feed everyone a lot of bullshit and watch the mushroom clouds waft over Iran....bastards...:wtf: wake up America...impeach Bush/Cheney now!

[doublethink]

2. This needs a big K&R.

As more credible people such as Larry Johnson begin to connect the dots concerning Bush's Iran Policy .... maybe it will wake more people up to the fact of what's going on.

Larry Johnson credibility link .... http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Larry_Johnson K&R. Peace. :kick:

[seemslikeadream]

3. Thank you so much for this kpete

:hi:


Clapper and McConnell will be more than willing collaborators in making a case that Iran is a serious, immediate threat. If you want to cook the books then these guys can be master chefs.


:nuke:

[mod mom]

4. Great- Bad news from a reliable source-just what we need.

[seemslikeadream]

5. I was accused of a few things here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3044319#3044533

and this non-story about a NeoCon gets 11 votes???

Anyone can click "recommend." That number carries little weight
It's a bit smarter than the "Mihop" threads that frequently poll bigger numbers than 11.


Why Are Horror Movies Popular, Sir?
Some people enjoy having the wits scared out of them while actually in a condition of perfect safety. This is just another field for the same sort of entertainment product.


Look,
You don't get huge numbers of replies in your threads by reasonably reporting the truth. You get them by starting flame wars or inciting panic.

just because I believe people should be aware of what's being said. Thanks for Larry Johnson words

[bleever]

6. And yet you persevere.

Thank you.

:yourock:

[mod mom]

8. some folks don't want to face the ugly truth.

being an election reformer from Ohio, I'm used to it. You are correct this is very insightful.

[flyarm]

11. thank you seemslikeadream& kpete..you are two of our best!!

ignore the crap...and just remember there are no finer words than..i told you so!!

but in this case ..it won't be an enjoyable ..i told you so...it will be WWIII


thanks for all you both do!!

fly

[dogday]

21. These bastards are not finished killing

and some of us knew that...

[cui bono]

7. Wow. This coupled with the thread mentioned in Reply #5 is FREAKING ME OUT!!!

Randi talked about the military taking over the CIA when Hayden got confirmed. Bad idea.

[seemslikeadream]

9. I've been waiting for something to happen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFowNFvmUxw

I've been waiting for something to happen
For a week or a month or a year
With the blood in the ink of the headlines
And the sound of the crowd in my ear
You might ask what it takes to remember
When you know that youve seen it before
Where a government lies to a people
And a country is drifting to war

And theres a shadow on the faces
Of the men who send the guns
To the wars that are fought in places
Where their business interest runs

On the radio talk shows and the t.v.
You hear one thing again and again
How the u.s.a. stands for freedom
And we come to the aid of a friend
But who are the ones that we call our friends--
These governments killing their own?
Or the people who finally can't take any more
And they pick up a gun or a brick or a stone
There are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire

Theres a shadow on the faces
Of the men who fan the flames
Of the wars that are fought in places
Where we cant even say the names

They sell us the president the same way
They sell us our clothes and our cars
They sell us every thing from youth to religion
The same time they sell us our wars
I want to know who the men in the shadows are
I want to hear somebody asking them why
They can be counted on to tell us who our enemies are
But they're never the ones to fight or to die
And there are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire


ush's Inconceivable Interest in Iran Sat Apr-01-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=819437

Senior U.S. Officials “Want to Hit Iran” Tue Apr-04-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=844418

Larisa Alexandrovna: CHENEY TAPS IRANIAN ARMS DEALER FOR IRAN TALKS Thu Apr-20-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=977234

Seymour Hersh said something startling about Rumsfeld on Democracy Now Fri Aug-18-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1936421

So former DLC, PNAC member Abram Shulsky feeding Cheney info on Iran? Sat Aug-19-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1944614

Fuck. Iran has started "war games." Escalation may only be expected. Sun Aug-20-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1949812

Attack on Iran is Coming Sun Aug-27-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1993284

"Grave threat". Yes, it's deja vu all over again. Thu Aug-31-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2022620

UN attacks US nuclear report on Iran erroneous misleading unsubstantiated Sun Sep-17-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2159951

We Are Conducting Military Operations Inside Iran Right Now Tue Sep-19-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2168218

Navy told: Prepare to blockade Iran by Oct 1 Mon Sep-18-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2161779

Pentagon Iran Office Mimics Former Iraq Office Wed Sep-20-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2179484

“This is the largest massing of military power in the region, and it is gathering for a reason.” Sat Nov-18-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2753952

Seymour Hersh: Cheney Says 'Whether Or Not Dems Win-NO STOPPING Military Option With Iran' Sun Nov-19-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2757350

Does anyone still believe the US will launch a full scale invasion of Iran? Mon Dec-04-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2856177

Saudi clerics rally support for Sunnis and Saudi ambassador Abruptly Resigns Tue Dec-12-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2902643

Act III in a Tragedy of Many Parts - The US Occupation of Iraq Sun Dec-17-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2935498

Century Foundation Iran White Paper Series Fundamentalists, Pragmatists and the Rights of the Nation Tue Dec-19-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2948146

Oh shit Tue Dec-19-06
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2944423

[cui bono]

10. Gee, now I have to go hide under the covers...

thanks for the links. I think. ;)

[doublethink]

12. Hmmmmmm.... thought I'd tag this article along here I just read ...

It relates to the 'shake up' going on with the military commanders Bush is about to change in his war strategy ... a couple of snips that caught my eye .....

Bush to reveal new commanders, war strategy next week
By Peter Spiegel, Times Staff Writer
6:56 PM PST, January 4, 2007

---- Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, currently the commander of all U.S. forces in east Asia and the Pacific, will be nominated as the new head of U.S. Central Command, the military headquarters responsible for operations in the Middle East, replacing retiring Army Gen. John P. Abizaid. -snip-

---- Bush's selection of Fallon would be more unexpected. Fallon, whose nickname is "Fox," would become the first Naval officer to take command of the Middle East headquarters since its creation in 1983. Because most threats in the region have been land-based, the command, known colloquially as Centcom, has alternated between Army and Marine generals. -snip

---- The selection of a Naval officer to head Centcom could signal the Pentagon's interest in devoting more attention to countries in the region other than Iraq.

Pentagon officials have repeatedly raised concerns about the smuggling of weapons and personnel by terrorist groups on the region's seas, while any military move against Iran would likely rely heavily on ship-based missiles and fighter aircraft. -snip-

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-generals5jan05,1,7040299.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=true

[Disturbed]

13. The War Machine grinds on.

Just because there is now a Dem Congress does not mean that the MIC slowed down. On the contrary, the War Mongers and the Multi-Corps that support them are moving ahead. The only solution is to Impeach Bush/Cheney and the rest of the Fascist Junta that has usurped the democratic republic that was once America.

[malaise]

14. Sure looks that way

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6232889.stm

[salin]

15. had been wondering about the Negroponte demotion.

More of the neocon dangerous game. On the one hand one would think that they wouldn't *dare* to try ths game the second act. But they act with such audaciousness and seem to really believe that nothing constrains them - there are merely 'obstacles' to get around. GRRRRR

Also see an item in, LBN I believe, with a title about Gen Clark *seething* yesterday when met by some Huffposters in the Capitol. I'll go look for the thread to link here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3041094 and it was in GDPolitics, not lbn.

[seemslikeadream]

18. here too in GD but some didn't like it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3044319

[wordpix]

16. thanks, everyone, for the links and info. I was wondering WTF's going on with this Negroponte move

I knew that whatever's behind it, BushCo's up to no good. I think we should send this info to our reps in Congress. They should know what's going on.

[kentuck]

17. Scary....

Let's just have a military coup and get it over with...

[Minnesota_Lib]

19. This ties in with Seemslikeadream's thread concerning a Michael Ledeen article.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3047465

Ledeen, a leading neocon mastermind who has had the ear of the administration and probably still has inside info, states that we must attack Iran based on newly discovered intel that Iran is arming Iraqi terrorists. We cannot win in Iraq, he claims, until we fist take out Iran and possibly Syria (unbelievably he also says we will be greeted as liberators by the Iranian people).

In the piece, Ledeen derides the U.S. intelligence community. Now these Clapper and McConnell characters are brought in to run intel.

Ledeen calls for jettisoning Abizaid and any other generals who lack the fortitude to do what is necessary to win (attacking Iran). It was announced today that Generals Abizaid and Casey have been replaced.

Two coincidences or does Ledeen know something is up?

Meanwhile, it was reported yesterday on the Huffington Post that Ledeen pal Netanyahu is putting the pressure on Bush to attack Iran (again, thanks to somethinglikeadream for the head's up on the Huffington piece).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/dc-notes-wes-clark-is-_b_37837.html

And, of course, Bush is planning a "surge" in troop strength despite the fact that all the experts say it will not help the current situation. It would help, however, if the war was expanded.

Is Ledeen just spouting off with his warmongering nonsense or is he showing off his insider's knowledge and influence?

Man, the way things are coming together under the publics radar--conveniently while the new Dem congress is dominating the news--lends a lot of credence to Larry Johnson's fears.

OK, time to take off my tinfoil hat.

[Minnesota_Lib]

20. Kick

[bobthedrummer]

22. kick

[Poiuyt]

23. Picked up at Rawstory also

Officials believe White House chose new Intelligence chief in effort to darken Iran Intelligence Estimate, broaden domestic surveillance

Larisa Alexandrovna
Published: Monday January 8, 2007

Nominee's company audited
SWIFT banking spy program

The nomination of retired Vice Admiral John Michael "Mike" McConnell to be Director of National Intelligence is part of an effort by the Vice President to tighten the Administration’s grip on domestic intelligence and grease the wheels for a more aggressive stance towards Iran, current and former intelligence officials believe.

If confirmed, McConnell will replace current National Intelligence Director John Negroponte, who was tapped Friday to become Deputy Secretary of State under Secretary Condoleezza Rice. According to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, Negroponte’s exit followed a lengthy internal administration battle between the Office of Vice President and the two-year-old Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

According to officials close to both men, two issues surround Negroponte’s departure and McConnell’s nomination: a forthcoming National Intelligence Estimate on Iran -- which the White House could use to buttress a case for military force -- and pressure from the Vice President to augment domestic surveillance.

Negroponte had resisted both efforts. Tensions soared after Negroponte made a public statement last year that countered the administration position that Iran was an immediate threat and that its alleged nuclear weapons program was in an advanced stage.

snip -

“McConnell will go along with whatever and make sure that no objective NIE comes out,” one former senior intelligence officer said.

more -

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Intelligence_officials_believe_White_House_chose_0108.html